Bits and Bobs secondary causes of heart problems Dr Angela McBrien 9 th September 2017
Not the heart
Dextroposition Heart in the right chest with the apex to the left Often caused by left sided chest mass pushing heart over = pushed to the right Left CPAM
Levoposition Heart deviated further than usual into the left chest Apex pointing to the left Cardiac axis normal = Pushed to the left Right CPAM
Agenesis of the ductus venosus The duct controls blood flow from the UV to the fetus The UV connects directly to the fetal venous system To the ileac vein/ivc/other Via the hepatic veins To the heart Findings: Large abnormal venous connection Cardiomegaly Hydrops High output cardiac failure Treatment: delivery
Isomerism Abnormality of sidedness right or left atrial isomerism Right commonly have structural heart disease Left heart may appear normal, but can have bradycardia (heart block) Non-cardiac issues: Midline liver (biliary atresia LAI) Absent/multiple (sometimes non functional) spleens Malrotation Ciliary dyskinesia (respiratory issues)
Rhabdomyomas Multiple Homogeneous Benign Get bigger until 32 weeks then slowly regress Can cause inflow/outflow obstruction Can have arrhythmias (SVT/VT/ectopy) Strong association with tuberous sclerosis Seizures, developmental delay, renal and cerebral tubers (wide spectrum)? Parental history
Aneurysms Thin walled outpouchings Broad based Poorly contracting Risk of arrhythmia, clot, hydrops, IUD? Cause -? Ischemia? Infection
Ductal aneurysm Fetal echo findings: Long, tortuous, widened ductus arteriosus Demonstrated in the three vessel view and the sagittal plane The duct bulges out (may be saccular or fusiform) to the left of the aorta
Ductal aneurysm The duct gets longer, wider and more tortuous as pregnancy progresses Ductal aneurysms happen increasingly in the third trimester By term, approx. 2% have an aneurysm and 8% have neonatal ductal aneurysms Mostly asymptomatic Some can rupture/fill with clot/embolise/compress surrounding structures Association with connective tissue disorders, mat GDM, SGA/LGA
Ductal constriction: fetal echo findings Small appearance of the duct in 2D imaging Turbulent colour flow in the duct High velocity flow on pulsed Doppler with: High systolic velocity High diastolic velocity Continuous flow throughout systole and diastole Low pulsatility index :<1.8)
Ductal constriction The fetal lungs have high resistance The majority of blood from the right ventricle goes through the duct to the lower body/placenta Ductal constriction: Results in high RV pressure In fetuses - PR, TR, dilated dysfunctional RV, hydrops, IUD In neonates pulmonary hypertension, cyanosis, death Is rare Usually happens in the third trimester Often idiopathic but can be caused by NSAIDs and green tea, etc. (reversible causes)
Twin-twin transfusion syndrome Mono-chorionic diamniotic pregnancies Donor twin small/absent bladder, oligohydramnios, abnormal Dopplers (UA) Recipient twin hypertrophy and reduced fx (esp RV), tricuspid regurgitation, pulmonary stenosis, abnormal Dopplers (veins) Can be fatal Treatment if bad enough laser therapy improvement in cardiomyopathy, pulmonary stenosis may improve https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/f/fetal-care/conditions/twin-twin-transfusion-syndrome
Ectopia cordis Very rare Heart either fully or partially outside the chest Can have chromosome probs (e.g. Trisomy 18) Outcomes tend to be poor May also have additional defects omphaloceles, or pentalogy of Cantrell: Diaphragmatic hernia Defect of pericardium Defect of anterior abdominal wall Intracardiac defects (VSDs, tetralogy of Fallot, )
Summary Heart position Agenesis of the ductus venosus Isomerism Tumors Aneurysms Ductal aneurysm Ductal constriction Twin-twin transfusion Ectopia cordis